"My gear didn't come yesterday," said Gormley, who was a Coyotes first-round pick (13th overall) in last season's NHL draft. "The airport here in Phoenix sent my gear to Mexico."

After sitting out Thursday's practice, Gormley hit the ice Friday morning trying to remind the Coyotes why they made him their first pick a year ago.

"I was pretty happy to see my gear in the locker room this morning and being able to show how much I have improved," Gormley said.

Gormley, 19, hasn't had a taste of the NHL yet, but toward the end of last season he signed an entry-level contract with the Coyotes to appear in the American Hockey League, where he played four games with the San Antonio Rampage.

Gormley started the 2010-11 season playing for Moncton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, but had to miss 20 games after suffering a knee injury. The injury also sidelined him from playing with the Canadian National Team at the Junior World Hockey Championships.

"Injuries are part of the game, but I'm 100 percent now and ready to go," Gormley said.

Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said Gormley would have an opportunity to make the roster during training camp.

"He's a very smart player that plays a team-first-oriented game and he's going to be a very good prospect for us," Tippett said. "If he plays well and if we think he can help our club that's when he will play for us (in the NHL). It usually takes young defensemen some time to get up to the pro game, but he's not that far away."

Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney joked about Gormley's missing gear, but has been pleased with his improvement.

"It's only been one day for Brandon because he sent his gear to Mexico for a day," Maloney said. "It's his second go around in the development camp and he's more mature and there has been more physical development. His game is heady, poise, smarts and patience and probably everything we've expected from him so far."

Gormley wants to use the prospect camp, which concludes Sunday morning, as preparation heading into September's training camp.

"The main goal is making to the NHL," Gormley said, "but there's still a lot of work ahead of me before I can make that jump."